A method for pre-lithiation and pre-sodiation of a negative electrode, including the steps of: preparing a negative electrode including a negative electrode current collector, and a negative electrode active material layer on at least one surface of the negative electrode current collector. Then, applying and drying a first composition containing a lithium metal powder, a polymer binder and a dispersion medium onto the negative electrode active material layer to form a lithium metal layer. Next, applying and drying a second composition containing a sodium metal powder, a polymer binder and a dispersion medium onto the lithium metal layer to form a sodium metal layer. Then, dipping the negative electrode having the lithium metal layer and the sodium metal layer in an electrolyte for pre-lithiation and pre-sodiation. A pre-lithiated and pre-sodiated negative electrode obtained by the method and a lithium secondary battery including the same are also disclosed.

A negative electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided. The negative electrode includes at least a negative electrode active material. The negative electrode active material includes a first type of silicon oxide particles and a second type of silicon oxide particles. The first type of silicon oxide particles has not been pre-doped with lithium. The second type of silicon oxide particles has been pre-doped with lithium. The first type of silicon oxide particles has a first average particle size. The second type of silicon oxide particles has a second average particle size. The ratio of the second average particle size to the first average particle size is not lower than 1.5 and not higher than 11.2.

Provided are compositions, systems, and methods of making and using pre-lithiated cathodes for use in lithium ion secondary cells as the means of supplying extra lithium to the cell. The chemically or electrochemically pre-lithiated cathodes include cathode active material that is pre-lithiated prior to assembly into an electrochemical cell. The process of producing pre-lithiated cathodes includes contacting a cathode active material to an electrolyte, the electrolyte further contacting a counter electrode lithium source and applying an electric potential or current to the cathode active material and the lithium source thereby pre-lithiating the cathode active material with lithium. An electrochemical cell is also provided including the pre-lithiated cathode, an anode, a separator and an electrolyte.

A lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein the negative electrode is lithiated by pre-lithiation, a total capacity of a negative electrode active material of the negative electrode is larger than a total capacity of a positive electrode active material of the positive electrode, and a charge capacity of the negative electrode is smaller than a charge capacity of the positive electrode by the pre-lithiation.

A method of producing a negative electrode, which includes: providing a negative electrode roll on which a negative electrode structure is wound, the negative electrode structure includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer on at least one surface of the negative electrode current collector; providing a pre-lithiation bath containing a pre-lithiation solution, which is sequentially divided into an impregnation section, a pre-lithiation section, and an aging section; impregnating the negative electrode structure with the pre-lithiation solution while unwinding the negative electrode structure from the negative electrode roll and moving the same through the sections. The pre-lithiation is performed by disposing a lithium metal counter electrode, which is spaced apart from the negative electrode structure and impregnated with the pre-lithiation solution, in the pre-lithiation section and electrochemically charging the negative electrode structure.

A method for lithiation of an electrode includes providing an electrode to be lithiated, providing a piece of lithium metal with predetermined weight attached to a conductive material, attaching the conductive material to a current collector of the electrode to be lithiated or to a metal tab connected to or from the electrode to be lithiated, placing the electrode to be lithiated, the piece of lithium, and the conductive material in a container, and filling the container with an electrolyte containing a lithium salt.

To produce a silicon oxide-based negative electrode material containing Li and having uniform distribution of a Li concentration both inside particles and between particles although a C-coating film is formed on a surface, and yet in which generation of SiC is suppressed. A SiO gas and a Li gas are simultaneously generated by heating a Si-lithium silicate-containing raw material under reduced pressure. The Si-lithium silicate-containing raw material includes Si, Li, and O, in which a part of the Si is present as a Si simple substance and the Li is present as lithium silicate. By cooling the generated gases, Li-containing silicon oxide having an average composition of SiLi.sub.xO.sub.y (0.05<x<y and 0.5<y<1.5 are satisfied) is prepared. After adjusting the particle size, a C-coating film having an average film thickness of 0.5 to 10 nm is formed on a surface of particles at a treatment temperature of 900° C. or less.

An object of the present invention is to provide a negative electrode active material capable of reducing the irreversible capacity of a lithium ion battery. The present invention provides a coated negative electrode active material for lithium ion batteries wherein at least a portion of the surface of a particulate negative electrode active material for lithium ion batteries is coated with a coating agent and the coated negative electrode active material is doped with at least one of lithium and lithium ions.

Low-voltage rechargeable microbatteries are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a microbattery includes: forming a cathode on a substrate, wherein the cathode includes a lithium intercalated material; forming a solid electrolyte on the cathode; forming an anode on the solid electrolyte; and forming a negative contact on the anode. A microbattery is also provided.

The electrode manufacturing system comprises a cutting device. The cutting device cuts an electrode material along one direction of the electrode material to manufacture electrodes. The electrode material comprises first sections and a second section. The first section includes an active material doped with alkali metal, and extends in the one direction. The second section is located between two adjacent first sections of the first sections. In the second section, the active material doped with alkali metal is absent. The cutting device cuts the second section.